South Carolina Senate approves early voting bill

The Senate has approved a bill allowing true early voting in South Carolina.

The measure approved 34-5 on Thursday allows voters to cast ballots during a 10-day window before Election Day, with no voting on Sundays or the Monday before an election.

South Carolina currently allows people to vote absentee in person up to a month before an election if they give an excuse why they cannot reach the polls on Election Day. That includes being at work or on vacation.

The Senate bill would not affect that in-person absentee voting at local elections offices, but adds a window when an excuse isn't needed.

However, an early voting measure moving through the House would end that de facto early voting and allow people to cast absentee ballots only by mail.